Study Finds Big Jump in ADHD Diagnosis Among US Kids

A new study finds a 43 percent increase in diagnoses of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among U.S. children and teens between 2003 and 2011.

In 2011, 12 percent of children and teens were diagnosed with ADHD; some 5.8 million U.S. children carry the diagnosis of ADHD which can cause inattention and behavioral difficulties.

Sean D. Cleary, Ph.D., M.P.H., an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) George Washington University said the analysis was performed on a large national study based on parental reports.

The reported increase in the diagnosis could be a true increase in the number of ADHD diagnoses or the result of a tendency to over-diagnose the condition, among other factors. Additional research will need to be done to find out why there has been a rise in the diagnosis, with special attention being paid to certain groups, Cleary said.

Notably, the research also uncovered a surprising increase in ADHD among girls during the study time frame. “We found the parent-reported prevalence for girls diagnosed with ADHD rose from 4.3 percent in 2003 to 7.3 percent in 2011. That’s an increase of 55 percent over an eight-year period,” Cleary said.

The new finding is surprising as traditionally boys have been more likely to get a diagnosis of ADHD, he said.

The report, published online in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, was based on data sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a National Children’s Survey from 2003-2011.

Cleary and his co-author Kevin P. Collins of Mathematica Policy Research mined the data looking for trends in parent-reported prevalence of ADHD.

“We found rising rates of ADHD overall and very sharp jumps in certain subgroups,” Cleary said, adding that for adolescents the diagnosis jumped by 52 percent since 2003.

“Parents should be made aware of the findings in case they have a child or teenager that should be evaluated for the disorder, which can persist into adulthood.”

This study was not designed to look at the underlying reasons for such changes in prevalence, Cleary said.

Cleary and Collins looked at data taken from the National Survey of Children’s Health, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey that collected information on the health of children aged 17 and younger.

They focused on a question in the survey that asked parents if a doctor or another health care provider had told them that their child had ADHD. The researchers also kept track of race/ethnicity and whether the children were boys or girls and other relevant sociodemographic factors that have previously been found to be related to ADHD diagnosis.

There have been very few previous studies looking at the prevalence of this disorder among different racial or ethnic groups, Cleary said.

This study did hone in on such subgroups finding the prevalence of parent-reported ADHD had risen by about 83 percent in Hispanic youth during the eight year study period. “Additional studies must be done to identify the underlying cause of the increase,” Cleary said.

In the meantime, he said parents should be aware of all of the issues surrounding a diagnosis of ADHD and talk to their doctor if they have concerns about a child’s behavior or ability to focus.

ADHD is often treated with stimulant drugs like Ritalin. Such drugs can help children and adults with ADHD focus and stay on task, but critics worry that the drugs may be over-prescribed.

Children with ADHD may have trouble with paying attention in class or at home and they might also be impulsive or prone to making careless mistakes. They can also be forgetful and, if nothing is done, the condition can lead to difficulties at school, at home, and in social situations, according to the CDC.

Related Articles

About Rick Nauert PhD

Dr. Rick Nauert has over 25 years experience in clinical, administrative and academic healthcare. He is currently an associate professor for Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals doctoral program in health promotion and wellness. Dr. Nauert began his career as a clinical physical therapist and served as a regional manager for a publicly traded multidisciplinary rehabilitation agency for 12 years. He has masters degrees in health-fitness management and healthcare administration and a doctoral degree from The University of Texas at Austin focused on health care informatics, health administration, health education and health policy. His research efforts included the area of telehealth with a specialty in disease management.